Judiciary pushes for more funds to prepare for 2027 polls
By Emmanuel Rono, May 13, 2026The Judiciary has appealed to Parliament to address its funding shortfall to enhance preparedness ahead of the general election and improve access to justice across the country.
According to a statement on its X account on May 13, 2026, Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Winfridah Mokaya, while appearing before the National Assembly’s Judiciary and Legal Affairs Committee on the FY 2026/2027 budget estimates, said inadequate funding continues to hinder the effective delivery of justice.
Mokaya urged lawmakers to urgently review the Judiciary’s resource allocation, noting that the institution is facing increasing demands as the country moves closer to the 2027 General elections.
“The Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Hon Winfridah Mokaya, CBS, engaged the Judiciary Legal Affairs Committee on the processing of the FY 2026/2027 budget estimates, calling for urgent consideration of the Judiciary’s funding gap, which continues to constrain the effective delivery of justice,” the Judiciary statement read.
Inside proposed budget
She said the proposed budget prioritises key election preparedness activities, including funding for the Judiciary Elections Committee (JCE) and the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) to ensure smooth handling of election-related cases.
“The FY 2026/27 budget estimates prioritise elections preparedness activities, including funding for the Judiciary Elections Committee (JCE ) and the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal ( PPDT) in readiness for the upcoming polls; the establishment and operationalisation of new courts, and the facilitation of newly recruited Judges and Magistrates,” the Judiciary statement read.
Strengthening ICT services
The Judiciary further stated that the budget is necessary to ensure onboarding and operational support for new tribunals and also to enhance operational funding to sustain new courts and strengthen ICT services across the Judiciary.
The Chief Registrar further emphasised that these investments are essential to ensure the Judiciary is institutionally prepared to handle the anticipated surge in election-related disputes while continuing to reduce case backlog and improve service delivery to Kenyans.
She was accompanied during the meeting by senior Judiciary officials, including the Director of Finance, the Registrar of the High Court, the Registrar of the Magistrates’ Court, and other members of the Judiciary management team.